@grumpyoldhori: " I wonder if all these new Nat supporters realise that 
 Douglas could well be the finance minister if we have
 a Nat/ACT coalition.
 Remember all the assets that were sold(given away)
 because Labout followed the Douglas mantra for too
 long.
 The Douglas mantra, easy, the peasants of NZ should
 not own assets through the government.
 Far better that foreign private companies make fat profits 
 buying(being given) assets that are owned by all 
 kiwis.
 I wonder why so many in the ACT/national partys believe we 
 should give our assets away so cheaply ? 
 They have good friends who are needy in the private
 sector ?
grumpy"
    @collectornz: "<quote>
Well actually I can remeber the days of P&T, that was before the Govt 
reformed it into what is now telecom and started to rationalize and 
through money at it to get it ready for sale. The new SOE actually 
started to make headway and become a useful organization but that only 
lasted till we sold it for a song. The story is the same for NZ Rail 
except that the Fay Richwhite dicks ripped it off and left the country 
and it in shit shape after they bough it."
    @rewarewa: "<quote>
Which would be you, according to a post you made a few weeks ago.
  realise that
That chance is nil right now. But if ACT scored 10% in the polls 
and better, and the economy was shot in a big way.. and the signs 
are there now.. he could be considered for a role in Govt, but 
never replace Bill English because Bill has the better resume of 
recent and relevant experience.
JC"
    @invalid3142: "<quote>
What an excellent idea. Sir Roger has plenty of experience as a Finance 
Minister, and National have nobody suitable."
    @Rich80105: "On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:36:19 +1300, Collector�NZ
<quote>
Fay and Richwhite are the NZ equivalents of James Dimon of JP Morgan
in the USA - unnecessary beneficiaries of governmetn largesse."
    @shane: "John Cawston did scribble:
<quote>
IMO the New Zealand economy isnt nearly in as bad shape as you portray.  The
housing boom had to end sooner or later, and was landing softly.  There hasnt
been any data released that shows any change to that (although it would be
extremely naive to suggest that no change has occurred)
The 'high' interest rates you mentioned earlier puts NZ in a much better
position than (for example) the US, in that the Reserve Bank of NZ has *much*
more leeway available than the Federal Reserve.
The drought is certainly against us, but wont break the back of the nation.
The interesting thing about New Zealands direct trade relationship with the US.
Exports
United States of America        4,212   Dec 07  (2nd)
Imports
United States of America        4,080   Dec 07 (3rd)
<url>
I would expect that any changes to that balance will stay in our favour. (As the
US buys less from us, we pay less to buy from them)
Hardware n: Parts of the computer you can kick"
    @hayhellpea: "<quote>
Thank you.  I'm sick of hearing the slogans about how governments can't 
  efficiently run businesses and services like those and that private 
enterprise does it best.  The most cursory examination of real life 
examples demonstrates that governments CAN and that where the business 
is a real or might-as-well-be monopoly we are better off with the 
profits coming back to us the taxpayers.
It's good to have someone come up with the actual sequence of events 
surrounding NZ's unwise plunge into privatisation for privatisation's sake.
There's that other slogan about competition being so great for everyone 
by ensuring we get best service at the best price.  Again, it depends. 
Airlines?  Yes, brief real competition when a new one starts up and the 
incumbent tries to drive it out of business by offering lower prices. 
If that doesn't work there ensues accommodation where both, because 
their costs are pretty much the same, charge pretty much the same but 
try to differentiate by logos, colour of hostesses' uniforms and 
occasionally going through a phase of  offering a cookie and a drink, 
till the opposition counters with a drink and a cookie, then the first 
offers a teeny discount and "no frills" and so on - make-believe 
competition.   In other businesses competition is real, e.g. clothing, 
white ware, arborists and hairdressers.
A L P"
    @general: ""Lord Montrose" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>
And has done more to advance this country than any other living politician. "
    @lf: "<quote>
Right. That has to be the joke of the century. Over-burdened 
buraucracies more efficient than private enterrpise.... yeah 
right. Benefits back to us... yeah right. How come power prices 
are so hight?
That's where you're worng. Emotionalised clap-trap is no 
substitue for a rational debate. You clearly have no idea what 
you're talking about.
A govt monopoly without competition is NOT effective and 
efficient! Do you know why? Have a think about it.
Talk about slogans... you're full of them. "
    @a: "On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:00:13 +1200, A_ L _P
<quote>
The billions that corporations lost in sub prime  mortgages should
kill the myth that private enterprise is always best.
Patrick"
    @b: "On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:16:16 +1300, Patrick FitzGerald <email_address>
wrote:
<quote>
get real Patrick - that was pure communism and classical
redistribution of wealth"
    @Rich80105: "On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:04:17 -0700 (PDT), Matty F
<quote>
But it makes a reasonable point that not all those leaving are
becauseof dissatisfaction with the leader. Katherine Rich leaving got
a lot of press time becuase she was seen as having excellent prospects
but was also perceived as coming up against National's glass ceiling.
John Key was seen as being more open to different inputs but in
practice seems less able to relate to women than Don Brash.  It will
be interesting to see if National can get away from a perception that
they treat women badly - certainly Georgina Te Heu Heu does nto appear
to be used to her potential."
    @Rich80105: "On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:03:39 +1300, "Laissez-faire"
<quote>
Lazy-fear John B wrong again. Seven. Power is one market where there
is competition, but we have not had any signficant increase in supply
for many years, while demand continues to increase.  Just be thankful
you are not int he UK relying on imported oil from Russia . . .
Where was the emotionalised claptrap lazy-fear? Why can you not engage
in any rational debate ever? 
I would rather have a public monopoly than a private one lazy-fear
John B. The private monopoly for rail has led to profit taking and
minimal investment in rolling stock to the point where value has been
taken out of the network, road is seen as a preferable alternative in
most cases, whereas had it  been run for the long term benefit of New
Zealanders, we would now have an efficient network that would provide
cheaper bulk transport than road.
Wheras you have no slogans or arguments lazy-fear John B."
    @gay: ""grumpyoldhori" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:frsph0$tst$<email_address>
<quote>
And thats not all, seems the Nats are welcoming ACT via the back door too 
with that slimeball Stephen Franks now a National candidate.
This has really thrown the cat amongst the pigeons for me.
Vote for ACT without Roger Douglas - maybe. Vote for ACT with Roger Douglas 
in it - NO WAY!!!!
Vote for National without Stephen Franks in it - maybe. Vote for National 
with Stephen Franks in it - NO WAY!!!!
Vote for Labour who are hellbent on stuffing up our economy and grinding us 
all into the ground and are full of lying, theiving toerags - NO WAY!!!!
Vote for Greens environmental policy - maybe. Vote for Greens social 
policy - NO WAY!!!!!
Vote for racist Winston - NO WAY!!!!
Vote for Maori Party - bugger knows what they stand for economically - who 
knows. Vote for Maori Party social policy - NO WAY!!!!
"What we need is a great bit melting pot..... big enough to hold the beehive 
and all its got....""
    @gay: "<Rich80105> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>
mmm, in some ways he "related" a little too well and in others xbuchanan@example.net.
Gay "
    @gay: ""Lord Montrose" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>
Lol, pass that rollup you have LordMontrose, you've been sucking on it too 
long .... "
    @grumpyoldhori: "<quote>
  Damn it Fred, he arranged to sell assets that you and 
  I owned for a bloody song.
grumpy"
    @Rich80105: "On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:31:39 +1300, "brazen"
<quote>
Exactly - misplaced enthusiasm. But Key seems to if anything less
enthusiasm for female participation in cabinet."
    @invalid3142: "<email_address>>, <email_address> 
says...
<quote>
So Bill English should be the National leader. National need ACT as a 
coalition partner or they won't have a show of winning.
The Dream Team: Bill English (leader), Winston Peters (deputy), Sir Roger 
Douglas (finance minister). Peter Dunne and Pita Sharples as Ministers 
also."
    @Rich80105: "On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:10:41 +1300, "brazen"
<quote>
I gather there are still quite a few National people who would prefer
English, but they will wait until after the next election. If Key
doesn't do well enough (and that would probably mean National having a
majority without a coalition partner) then English will be the
replacement - English is seen as having performed better than Key
recently, but then he made a gaffe yesterday on Kiwisaver."
    @rewarewa: "<quote>
It's really starting to hurt them:
<url>
National up 1.5%, Labour down 1%
Government Confidence down 10.5% and RM Consumer Confidence 
sharply down 10.2%.
JC"
    @briand: "On Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:11:50 -0700 (PDT), <email_address>
wrote:
<quote>
Nobody gets turned away from ED at Capital and Coast, Wellington.
They are from Wakefield.
And NZ always scores highly in international education rankings.
As to Telecom and Rail, I do remember and I know why - nearly
always under the Nats.
Brian Dooley
Wellington  New Zealand"
    @rewarewa: "<quote>
I don't think we'll see more than a bit of volatility. Things 
like slip ups appear to have little effect. It'll take some more 
long term factor like a scandal to do it.
JC"
    @thing: "<quote>
What has changed? the rail services still has the same crappy 1952 
trains in some cases...toll wont invest so its up to Labour to buy them 
out...
Telecom, been shoving it up our posterior in over charging for years...
Health? dear douglas wants it private, just like the american system I 
bet and what a disaster that is, yet takes 2 x the GDP ours does.
Education, actually not doing to badly....so as a comparison, retaining 
ownership makes more sense than selling it off.
regards
Thing"
    @thing: "<quote>
Thats easy, because private organisations dont look at the long term, 
they look at this year's share dividend so dont invest. Hence power 
prices are rocketing....
The Nats stuffed it up, thanks.
regards
Thing"
    @Rich80105: "On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:57:32 -0700 (PDT), Matty F
<quote>
And also:
"But March was a bad month for Mr Key, and that shows in the poll.
He was tagged "slippery" after failing to articulate a concise
response to Labour's move to keep Auckland Airport in New Zealand
control.
He made errors explaining his party's position on Treaty of Waitangi
settlements."
With no real difference between the parties on tax cuts, the only
major difference is that National would not spend $750 million over
the next 15 years on scientific research - which will hardly help them
with their business and farming supporters. I suspect their arrogant
will middle-class male image is starting to grate on many New
Zealanders as well. National have also missed the mood of the country
with some of their candidate selections as well - picking Stephen
Franks is likely to ensure that Wellington Central stays Labour."
    @Rich80105: "On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:14:21 -0700 (PDT), george <email_address>
wrote:
<quote>
No, they have to be elected with a sufficient majority for that. "
    @Rich80105: "On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:11:23 -0700 (PDT), Matty F
<quote>
The voters for the Maori seats will also probably give Labour a
majority of list votes, thereby giving an overhang and Labour more
seats.
National are unlikely to get enough seats to govern alone - if there
is not a Labout coalition government again National is likely to need
ACT, and a condition of ACT going into coalition is likely to be an
economic portfolio for Douglas.
Its slipping away from Slippery Key at the moment, but there is still
a long way to go."
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